Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or other receptacles



W. SUMNER.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL INTO SHELLS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-20,19I7.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

W. SUMNER. APPARATUS FOR FILLING EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL INTO SHELLS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1917.

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Patented Apr. 20; 1920.

w. SUMNER. APPARATUS FOR FILLING EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL INTO SHELLS OR OTHER RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION'FILED AUG.20| I917. v

1,337Q90, Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

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WILLIAM SUMNER, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.-

APPARATUS FOR FILLING EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL INTO SHELLS OR OTHER RECEP- TACLES.

Application filed. August 20, 1917.

V which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or other receptacles, the invention being of the type, where the explosive material is delivered from a filling nozzle by means of a worm, the supply of explosive material being directed to the worm by an agitated feed pressure. The apparatus to which the present invention is more particularly directed is suitable for filling the larger sizes of shells.

According to this invention the apparatus comprises a longitudinally movable tubular filling nozzle containing the feeding worm, the tubular nozzle being entered through the usual filling aperture in, say, the shell, and passed completely down to the bottom, the expulsion of the explosive material from the nozzle tube by the rotation of the worm causing the nozzle tube and its inclosed worm to be forced back by the upward reacting pressure of the compressed explosive material and out of the shell or the like, the interior of the latter being thus closely and tightly packed with explosivematerial.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1. is a side view of the apparatus, Fig. 2. an end'view of Fig. 1., Fig. 3. a fragmentary plan of the filling hopper and means for insuring an agitated feed. pressure. Fig. i. is a detail plan to a larger scale of the preferred form of roller key for slidably engaging and driving the feed worm spindle. Figs. 5, 6 and 7. are fragmentary detail views on a larger scale of the brake mechanism for controlling the movements of the' hopper and worm, Fig. 5. being a side view, Fig. 6. a plan and Fig. 7. an end view. Fig. 8. is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the projection of the feed worm end from the tubular nozzle for the purpose of increasing the density of the packing.

In adapting the invention for filling the Specification of Letters Patent. 7

supply of explosive material.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Serial No. 187,181.

heavier class of shell the apparatus comprises a substantial framework 1 in which is preferably vertically mounted a shaft or spindle 2 carrying thefeed worm 3 at its lower end, the lower part of the feed worm being inclosed within a tubular nozzle 4%, the upper end 3 of the feed worm entering into a filling hopper 5 adapted to receive the The worm, inclosing tube, driving spindle and the hopper, carried from the inclosing tube, are all arranged to move longitudinally in the arms 1 of the framework and the spindle 2 is driven from a pulley 6 or the like fixed axially but driven rotatively from the driving mechanism of the apparatus by a belt 7 passing over guide pulleys 8 and around a driving pulley Qwhich is adapted to be clutched and declutched with the continuously driven pulley 10 of the machine by a clutch mechanism 11 of any known and suitable type.

The driving spindle 2 is provided with a keyway 12 or the like engaged by a feather or key on a sleeve or bush 13 fixed in the boss of the pulley 6, so that while the spindle is driven rotatively from the pulley 6 it may pass longitudinally therethrough. In the preferred form the pulley 6 is secured on a sleeve 13 mounted in ball races in the bosses of-the arms 1 of the framework, the sleeve 13 carrying a pair of side cheeks 14: in which is pivoted a roller '15 Fig. 4, having an annular rib 16 thereon engaging the keyway in the sindle 2. The contour of the roller- 15 is formed to fit the cylindrical exterior of the spindle 2, and a second roller 15, may be provided on the opposite side of the yoke the curved profile of which is also formed to fitthe cylindrical exterior of the spindle 2. In this way the yoke cheeks 14 and the ribbed roller 15 are driven from the pulley 6, the rib 16 forming a revoluble key which permits, with a minimum of friction, the vertical sliding movement of the spindle 2 while it is being rotatively driven. In

order to maintain an agitated pressure of clined side of the hopper, the plate 18 having, if desired, a series of fins 19 for. engaging the granular explosive material and feeding it toward the worm 3. The plate 18 is pivotally connected at 17 a to a rod 17, which may be telescopically and resiliently arranged so as to give somewhat under pressure, and is reciprocated by a rocking lever 20 pivoted at 21 in an arm 22 carried from a boss 23 fixed to the hopper, the boss 23 also preferably carrying aforked arm 24 for guiding the rod 17. A roller 25 on the end of the rocking lever engages a cam groove 26 in a collar 27 keyed on the spindle 2, so that the plate 18 is reciprocated while the worm 3 is rotating and feeding. A bracket 28 carried from the hopper engages by rollers 29 on either side of the main column 1 of the framework, the hopper being thus prevented from rotating as the spindle 2 is driven and being vertically guided to ride up the column. The clutch mechanism 11 is automatically operated at the commencement and finish of the operation of filling a shell by means of stops 30 on a rod 31 pivoted to a rocking lever 32 coupled to the clutch gear. When the bracket 28 engages the lower stop 30 the clutch is put in gear and the pulley 9 driven from the main pulley 10, the worm then commencing to feed explosive material from the hopper. As the hopper rises and the bracket 28 engages the top stop 30 the clutch is automatically disengaged and the feeding action of the worm stopped.

In operation, the shell a carried in the usual manner on a trolley 33 and with its filling aperture vertical is run beneath the worm 3 (then in its top position) which, within its inclosing tube 4,is then lowered by hand down into the shell to the base of the inner cavity, say to the point I), the driving pulley 9 being declutched during this operation of lowering the worm. When the filling tube 4 is moved to its lowest point in the shell the bracket 28 is arranged to engage the lower stop 30. The driving pulley 9 is thereby clutched and explosive material is delivered from the hopper by the worm and down through the tubular nozzle 4 into the shell, the explosive material compressing itself tightly into the base of the shell, and owing to the reaction on the worm and its inclosing tube of this compression of, the explosive material the worm and its tube are gradually forced upward and out of the shell, also carrying the hopper up, the explosive material being thus evenly and tightly packed. The driving spindle, hopper, feeding worm and tube 4 maybe balanced by a counter weight 34 connected to the hopper by a cord 35 passing over small guide pulleys, the weight 34 rising and falling in the hollow column 1 of the framework. As the hopper rises until the shell is completely filled the bracket 28 engages the upper stop 30 thus throwing out the clutch and stopping the feed movement of the worm. It may be advisable to arrange that this declutching action takes place when the lowest point of the tube 4 is about the level of the point 0, the tube being then lifted by hand for the remaining distance to clear it from the shell, which latter is then moved out of position on its trolley 33 and a further shell brought into place, the operation being again repeated. In order to assist the free delivery action of the worm and to insure a more positive feed, the worm may be made of a slower pitch at the hopper end, than at the delivery point.

In order that the density of the material and closeness of packing may be varied, so as to pack a greater or less quantity of. explosive material within shells of a constant capacity, means may be provided whereby the upward resistance to movement of the filling nozzle and worm may be accurately graduated by a brake mechanism or the like.

In a suitable construction of the brake mechanism as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the hopper is provided with resilient cheek plates 36 within which is pivoted a toothed wheel 37 engaging a fixed rack 38 carried from a rod 39 or otherwise secured to the machine, the toothed wheel 37 thus moving with the hopper and rolling on the rack. The toothed Wheel may be fitted with a freewheel mechanism such, that no resistance to rotary movement takes place when the filling nozzle is lowered into the shells, but only on the retreating movement of the nozzle. The toothed wheel 37 is rotatably mounted on a bolt 40, passing through the cheek plates 36 and provided with a wing nut 41,

between which .and a graduated dial 42 is mounted a short spring 43, washers 44 of some frictional material being mounted between the cheek plates 36 and the toothed wheel 37, and thus, by adjusting the compression of the wing nut 41, the toothed wheel 37 may be more or less tightly gripped between the washers, the cheek plates being drawn together by the adjustment of the nut 41, the pointer 45 indicating on-the dial 42 the degree of compression. In order that the frictional drag thus set up on the toothed wheel 37 may only take place during the up ward retreating movement of the filling noz zle, the head 46 of the bolt 40 may be fitted with a pin 47, which also passes through the afms of a yoke 48 operated by the handle 49. The projecting end of the pin 47 is guided in a slotted bracket 50 and the lower corners of the yoke arms 48 are fitted with small rollers 51. WVhen the yoke is in the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 7., the cheek plates are uncompressed and the toothed wheel 37 free to revolve. This is the posi-- tion of the control when the tubular nozzle is being lowered into the shell preparatory to filling. Before the commencement of filling, the arm 49 is depressed to the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 7., the yoke pivoting about the pin 47, the rollers being forced inward to the position shown, this action forcing in the left cheek plate Fig. 7. and by pulling the bolt over, the right cheek also, owing to the wedging action of the yoke, both cheek plates 36 closing the washers 44 together thus putting a frictional drag on the rotation of the wheel 37, which drag, as previously explained, may be graduated by means of the nut 41.

It is found that with certain classes of explosive, the material has a tendency to hang in the tube A or deliver slowly. being carried around by the worm 3 instead of being fed forward axially, and in order to avoid this the internal wall of the tube is roughened by a series of grooves, 4 or in a mechanically equivalent manner. lVith such an arrangement a better grip is attained by the worm on the explosive material and the longitudinal flow of material is increased and a greater density of packing may be obtained.

Where the foot of the worm 3 is made flush with the lowest point of the filling nozzle 4:, the explosive material is apt to become very inefliciently packed into the annular space between the exterior of the nozzle 4 and the inner wall of the shell cavity and moreover, with such an arrangement it is sometimes difiicult to obtain any very considerable variation of the density of the explosive material or closeness of packing. By arranging that the foot or lowest point of theworm projects below the lowest point of the filling nozzle, as in Fig. 8, I find that the explosive material may be much more densely packed into the shell, and by varying the amount by which the foot of the worm projects below the nozzle the closeness of packing of the explosive material may be varied within very considerable limits.

In order to insure that the explosive material shall be delivered laterally from the outlet of the nozzle as well as longitudinally and so maintain the same density of packing of the material throughout the shell cavity, the end of the worm, where it projects beyond the tubular nozzle, has the lower part of its thread arranged otherwise than as a true continuation of the main helix so that this portion of the thread or worm may act as a paddle or blade element, and as the worm rotates distribute the material laterally and consolidate it into the annular space between the nozzle and the shell cavity. Any other desirable mechanical equivalent may be used for this purpose.

By the use of an apparatus such as de scribed, the operation of filling the shell with explosive material is a completely in closed one, the tubular nozzle nearly filling the shell aperture and the disadvantages arising from the present open method of' hand filling high explosive material into shells are avoided.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable withsaid nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression of the material.

2. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable with said nozzle, said feeding worm projecting below the foot of the nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to I the compression of the material.

3. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, a brake mechanism controlling the movement of said nozzle, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable with said nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression of the material.

i. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, having a roughened interior surface, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable with said nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression of the material.

5. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, a filling hopper carried on and movable with said nozzle, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable with said nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression of the material.

6. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a longitudinally movable tubular nozzle, a filling hopper carried on said nozzle, a movable side wall to the hopper having fins or projections, said side wall being reciprocated by some movable part of the apparatus, and a rotary feeding worm inclosed in and movable with said nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding Worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression of the material.

7. Apparatus for filling explosive material into shells or receptacles, comprising, a 1ong'itudinally movable tubular nozzle, a bracket carried from the nozzle, stops adapted to be engaged by the bracket at each end of its travel, the movement of said stops controlling the action of a feeding Worm, and a rotary feeding Worm inclosed in and movable With said nozzle, the expulsion of the explosive material causing the nozzle and feeding Worm to be forced back out of the shell by the reaction due to the compression 15 of the material. o

8. Apparatus for filling explosive material into receptacles comprising a movable nozzle, and means for feeding the material through the nozzle, said material reactin 20 against the nozzle as the receptacle is filled to force said nozzle out of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM SUMNER. WVitnesses:

A. J. DAVIES, ESTHER HEGINBOTHAM. 

